Luke 15:8

Ten pieces of silver (dracma deka). The only instance in the N.T. of this old word for a coin of 65.5 grains about the value of the common dhnariu (about eighteen cents), a quarter of a Jewish shekel. The double drachma (didracmon) occurs in the N.T. only in Matthew 17:24 . The root is from drassomai, to grasp with the hand ( 1 Corinthians 3:19 ), and so a handful of coin. Ten drachmas would be equal to nearly two dollars, but in purchasing power much more. Sweep (saroi). A late colloquial verb sarow for the earlier sairw, to clear by sweeping. Three times in the N.T. ( Luke 11:25 ; Luke 15:8 ; Matthew 12:44 ). The house was probably with out windows (only the door for light and hence the lamp lit) and probably also a dirt floor. Hence Bengel says: non sine pulvere. This parable is peculiar to Luke.